Swimming on the cards once foreshore revamp complete
Construction of the proposed Berrys Bay foreshore parkland is expected to start later this year, with consultation on the final master plan now open.
Years in the making, the plan will transform the historic waterfront site at Waverton, which in years past housed an oil refinery, a quarantine station and Woodley’s Boatyard – a shipbuilding facility.
Situated on the other side of the Coal Loader at North Sydney, the foreshore will link with an existing path at Balls Head to create a walkway along the bay.
Following community consultation, changes have been made to the plan which will allow more boats to berth near Woodley’s Boatyard. Storage for kayak and small watercraft has also been proposed, with further retention of slipways proposed to accommodate these vessels.
An all-ages and abilities playground is part of the plan, and use of the water for swimming is envisaged. Additional trees, vegetation and seating will augment the once-industrial landscape and create more shade, the plan report says.
Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson said the next step in the development of the master plan was a detailed design, with further input from the local community and North Sydney Council.
While Council supports the plan, it has been advocating that the State Government transfer ownership, care and control over the land to the local government for decades, Mayor Zoë Baker says.
At a Council meeting in February, councillors moved to ‘urgently’ write to New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet, asking that he immediately transfer the Berrys Bay foreshore lands to Council before the election.
Construction at Berrys Bay is expected to start later this year, with the foreshore parkland set to open in 2024.
To comment on the plan, visit the Transport for NSW Berrys Bay master plan webpage here.
